Introduction to Veterinary Physical Rehabilitation David Levine, PT, PhD, CCRP a,b,c, * , Darryl L. Millis, MS, DVM, CCRP a,b , Denis J. Marcellin-Little, DEDV, CCRP c a Department of Physical Therapy, Dept. 3253, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, 615 McCallie Avenue, Chattanooga, TN 37403–2598, USA b Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine, 2407 River Drive, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA c Department of Clinical Sciences, North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine, 4700 Hillsborough Street, Raleigh, NC 27606, USA P hysical therapy is a profession with an established scientific basis in human beings and companion animals. It has a large number of clinical applications in the restoration, maintenance, and promotion of optimal physical function [1]. It is beneficial in helping people to recover from anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction, fracture stabilization, joint arthroplasty, spinal surgery, and many other injuries or diseases [2–5]. It also improves function in a variety of patients with osteoarthritis, total joint arthroplasty, and chronic lower back pain throughout their lives [6–8]. It also helps athletes to in- dividualize their training and optimize their fitness [9,10]. Similar applications exist in animals. In providing physical therapy, the goal is to restore, maintain, and promote optimal function, optimal fitness, wellness, and quality of life as they relate to movement disorders and health. In dogs, this may include treating patients during their recovery from orthopedic surgical procedures (eg, femoral head ostectomy), monitoring weight loss programs, strengthening specific muscle groups, and helping to manage chronic conditions (eg, osteoarthritis) or progressive conditions (eg, degenerative myelopathy). A major emphasis is to prevent or minimize the onset, clinical signs, and progression of impairments, functional limitations, and disabilities that may result from diseases, disorders, conditions, and injuries. Examples in people include designing and delivering treatment programs for patients with problems like pneumonia, multiple *Corresponding author. Department of Physical Therapy, Dept. 3253, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, 615 McCallie Avenue, Chattanooga, TN 37403–2598, USA. E-mail address: david-levine@utc.edu (D. Levine). 0195-5616/05/$ – see front matter ª 2005 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/j.cvsm.2005.07.002 vetsmall.theclinics.com Vet Clin Small Anim 35 (2005) 1247–1254 VETERINARY CLINICS SMALL ANIMAL PRACTICE